Highly Pathogenic 

Avian Influenza 

(HPAI) Response Plan: 

The Red Book 

(Updated May 2017)

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Update Information

This version of the USDA APHIS HPAI Response Plan: 

The Red Book (Updated May 2017) reflects knowledge 

and lessons learned during the following outbreaks:

• 2014–2015, HPAI—largest outbreak in U.S. history

• 2016, HPAI/LPAI in Indiana

• 2017, HPAI/LPAI in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, and Georgia
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What Changed

Revisions made include the following:

• Reflection of policy changes made after release of last response 

plan.

• Reflection of New National Response Framework (June 2016).

• Inclusion of revised World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) 

Terrestrial Animal Code (2016).

• Replacement of surveillance sections, revised by the Center for 

Epidemiology and Animal Health. 

• Incorporation of new permitted movement guidance.

• Inclusion of additional guidance on restocking activities.
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Additional Updates

Revisions made also include the following:

• Correction of any errors identified in the prior version.

• Addition of changes made in response to comments on the DRAFT 

August 2015 version.

• Reflection of the updated Secure Poultry Supply Plan, which is 

working to harmonize and integrate existing plans for eggs, turkeys, 

and broilers.
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Supplemental Policy Information 

• The National Incident Coordination Group developed additional 

policy guidance in result of the recent Avian Influenza outbreaks, 

available here: www.aphis.usda.gov/fadprep. 

• The HPAI Redbook provides strategic guidance; whereas, additional 

policy guidance provides information on how to operationalize 

activities, particularly for the unified Incident Command.

• These are consistent with the HPAI Redbook, and should be utilized 

in any future outbreak.

• Check these documents frequently as they do change. 
Purpose of Plan

Provides responders with:

• A guiding APHIS policy document to use during an 

HPAI outbreak in domestic poultry.

• Current strategic guidance for control and 

eradication of HPAI in domestic poultry during an 

outbreak.

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Animal health emergency responders, Federal, 

State, local, and Tribal governments as well as 

industry partners.

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Target Audience
Key Components of the Plan

• HPAI Information

• Framework of USDA & APHIS Response

• Response Goals

• Response Strategy

• Critical Activities and Tools

• Restocking and Recovery

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HPAI Response Goals

• Detect, control, and contain HPAI in domestic 

poultry as quickly as possible.

• Eradicate HPAI using strategies that seek to protect 

public health and the environment, and stabilize 

animal agriculture, the food supply, and the 

economy.

• Provide science- and risk-based approaches and 

systems to facilitate continuity of business for noninfected animals and non-contaminated animal 

products.

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HPAI Response Goals continued

• Achieving these three goals will allow individual 

poultry facilities, States, Tribes, regions, and 

industries to resume normal production as rapidly 

as possible. 

• The objective is to allow the United States to regain 

disease-free status without the response effort 

causing more disruption and damage than the 

disease outbreak itself.

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HPAI Response Strategy

• The primary control and eradication strategy for 

HPAI in poultry is stamping-out.

– Stamping-out is the depopulation of clinically affected and 

in-contact susceptible poultry.

– If the spread of HPAI outpaces the resources for stampingout, or if other factors direct the response away from a 

stamping-out strategy alone, emergency vaccination 

strategies might be considered.

• The response strategy will be supported by a 

coordinated public awareness campaign. 

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HPAI Response Strategy

Stamping-Out Policy

• Primary strategy for control and eradication of HPAI 

in domestic poultry.

• Infected birds will be depopulated in the quickest, 

safest, and most humane way possible.

• Based on the epidemiology of the outbreak, 

prioritizing the poultry to depopulate first may be 

necessary.

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HPAI Response Strategy

Authorization for Response Activities

• When the criteria for a presumptive positive HPAI case 

have been met (per the H5/H7 AI Case Definition), the 

APHIS Administrator or VS Deputy Administrator can 

authorize APHIS personnel—in conjunction with State, 

Tribal, and IC personnel—to initiate depopulation. 

• Depopulation of poultry on Contact Premises or those 

meeting the suspect case definition may also be 

warranted; this action will be authorized by APHIS and 

State/Tribal officials.

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HPAI Response Strategy

Coordinated Public Awareness Campaign

• Engages and leverages Federal-State-Tribal-local-stakeholder 

relationships to provide unified public messages for local, 

national, and international audiences.

• Addresses the issues and concerns relating to food safety, 

public health, and animal welfare.

• Addresses issues and concerns rated to interstate commerce, 

continuity of business, and international trade.

• Widely disseminated key communication messages to 

consumers and producers.

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Response Critical Activities and Tools 

• Public Communication and Messaging Campaign

• Quarantine and Movement Control

• Biosecurity

• Diagnosis and Reporting

• Epidemiological Investigation and Tracing

• Surveillance

• Continuity of Business

• Mass Depopulation and Euthanasia 

• Disposal 

• Cleaning and Disinfection 

• Emergency Vaccination

These critical activities are covered in more detail in the FAD 

PReP Standard Operating Procedures and NAHEMS Guidelines.

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Response Critical Activities and Tools 

Appraisal 

• State and APHIS officials approve depopulation prior 

to its occurrence. 

• Indemnity is a key component of APHIS’s disease 

control programs in that the promise of fair 

compensation for losses helps to ensure cooperation 

from the owners of affected poultry.

• Such cooperation is important for rapid disease 

control and eradication.

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Response Critical Activities and Tools 

Mass Depopulation and Euthanasia

• Due to the risk of virus amplification in infected poultry, 

authorized depopulation activities should be completed as 

quickly as possible; the goal is within 24 hours.

• Carbon dioxide and water-based foam concentrate have most 

commonly been used to depopulate poultry flocks.

• However, to meet the goal of depopulation within 24 hours 

and halt virus production, other alternative methods may also 

be considered by State and APHIS officials.

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Response Critical Activities and Tools 

Cleaning and Disinfection (Virus Elimination)

• Cleaning and disinfection steps are necessary to control and 

eliminate HPAI during an outbreak.

• Cleaning is the removal of gross contamination, organic material, 

and debris from the premises. 

– This can be mechanical, like sweeping (dry cleaning) and/or the use of water 

and a soap or detergent (wet cleaning).

• Disinfection refers to the methods that are used on surfaces to 

destroy or eliminate HPAI virus. 

– This can be physical (e.g., heat) or chemical (e.g., disinfectant).

• Cleaning and disinfection activities should focus on eliminating the 

virus in the most cost-effective manner possible.

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Response Critical Activities and Tools 

Quarantine and Movement Control (QMC)

• By restricting movement of infected poultry, poultry 

products, and contaminated fomites, QMC can aid in 

controlling and eradicating HPAI during an outbreak.

• The Emergency Management Response System 2.0 (EMRS2) is 

the official system of record for permits and permitted 

movements made into, within, and out of a Control Area.

• Based on science- and risk- based information, QMC includes 

permitted movement: for more information on permits 

during an HPAI outbreak, please see Manual 6-0. 

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Supporting FAD PReP Materials

Strategic Plans-Concept of Operations Documents

• APHIS Foreign Animal Disease Framework: 

Roles and Coordination (FAD PReP Manual 1-0)

• APHIS Foreign Animal Disease Framework: 

Response Strategies (FAD PReP Manual 2-0)

• APHIS FAD Investigation Manual 

(FAD PReP Manual 4-0)

• Permitted Movement 

(FAD PReP Manual 6-0)

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Supporting FAD PReP Materials

Continuity of Business 

Secure Poultry Supply Plans (Egg, Turkey & Broiler)

• Based on current research and practice in fields including 

virology, flock husbandry, epidemiology, and riskassessment.

• Uses science- and risk-based preparedness and response 

components to provide guidance on permitting the 

movement of egg industry products from a Control Area 

during an HPAI outbreak.

• These recommendations effectively manage the risk of 

HPAI transmission to naïve premises and provide a high 

degree of confidence that egg industry products moved 

into market channels do not contain HPAI virus.

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Supporting FAD PReP Materials

NAHEMS Guidelines

• Continuity of Business

• Biosecurity

• Quarantine and Movement 

Control

• Information Management

• Cleaning and Disinfection

• Disposal

• Surveillance, Epidemiology, and 

Tracing

• Health and Safety

• Personal Protective Equipment

• Mass Depopulation and 

Euthanasia 

• Vaccination for Contagious 

Diseases

• Wildlife Management & Vector 

Control for FAD Response in 

Domestic Livestock

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Sources

• APHIS FAD PReP website

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/fadprep

• FAD PReP HPAI Page (Response and Policy 

Information) 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animal

health/emergency-management/fadprep-hpai

• Secure Poultry Supply Plan

www.securepoultrysupply.com

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